Harmonica tester



March 8, 1938.

C. TREVOR HARMONICA TESTER Filed April 5, 1957 INVENTOR Qmmzzs Tamvam A TO R N EY Patented Mar. 8,' 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARMONICA TESTER Charles Trevor, Jersey City, N. J.

Application April 3, 1937, Serial No. 134,761

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a harmonica tester.

More specifically, this invention contemplates the provision of a mouthpiece which may be used in connection with a harmonica to test the reeds mouthpiece which is adapted to be resiliently engaged over the front edge of a harmonica for maintaining the harmonica in position and for permitting it, to be adjusted across the front thereof.

The invention is further characterized by a bulb constructed of soft rubber or similar material which is attached to the back of the mouth piece and which may be compressed to force air through the mouthpiece to sound and so test the harmonica.

Still further the invention is characterized by a mouthpiece having a construction which permits it to be easily engaged and removed from the harmonica to enhance the testing qualities thereof.

Another characteristic of the invention is the provision of an adjustable means-associated with the mouthpiece of the device which may be used in conjunction with a harmonica having a double row of reeds to selectively test either the upper or lower row of reeds.

Still further the means for selectively testing the upper and lower row of reeds provides superimposed openings in the mouthpiece which are alignable with the superimposed openings in the front edge of the harmonica and a disc member rotative in said mouthpieceand having a pair of openings at right angles to each other adapted to be selectively engaged with either of the openings in the mouthpiece to permit the air to pass through the reeds.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure-'- Fig. l is a perspective view of the device engaged on a harmonica with a portion thereof broken away to reveal interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the harmonica tester, per se. 5

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detailed view of a portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken 'on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The harmonica tester, according to this invention, includes a mouthpiece H which is adapted to be engaged over the front edge of a harmonica l2 and resiliently maintain its position thereon and also capable of manual movement along the harmonica II. A bulb I0 is mounted on said mouthpiece for forcing air through said mouthpiece to sound and so test the harmonica.

The mouthpiece ii comprises a lip portion II and a rear portion ll pivotally connected together by means of a pintle pin i3 forming an axis therefor. The lip portion ll has a circular disc element l4 fixedly mounted thereon by means of rivets IS. The rear portion ii has a section l I to which a plate i6 is fixedly attached by means of rivets ll. The. section H is vulcanized, cemented, or in any other manner fixed: ly attached to an element ll forming the completed back portion H.

The harmonica l2 has superimposed openings i8 which lead to a double row of reeds contained within the harmonica l2. The lip portion II of the mouthpiece ll engages over the sides l2 of the harmonica and has resilient flanges l9 fixedly attached at one of their ends to said lip portion and frictionally engaging the sides of the harmonica to maintain the lip portion H"- in position thereon and permit it to be manually moved along the front edge of the harmonica. These flange portions iii are vulcanized, cemented, or in any other manner attached to the lip portion ll.

The lip portion H has a pair of openings 20 angularly spaced 180 relative to the axis of the pintle i3 which are alignable with the passages i8 in the front edge of the harmonica to permit the air to pass therethrough to the reeds. The rear portion Ii has a pair of passages 2i (see Fig. 4) angularly spaced 530 relative to the axis of the pintle pin l3 which are selectively alignable with the passages 20 when the bulb portion I0 is rotated through 90 to permit the air to be selectively passed through the upper or lower passages 18 to sound either the upper or lower set of reeds.

The back section II has a screen 22 mounted therein to stiffen this section and help it to maintain its normal shape to prevent buckling between the disc element I4 and the plate II to prevent rotation thereof. This section li is also fixedly connected with the bulb H) which is constructed of a relatively soft rubber material which is easily compressed to force air through the passages 20 and 2| wthin the mouthpiece II of the harmonica tester and through to the passages I 8 in the harmonica l2.

A means is provided on the disc I which engages the plate IE to limit the distance through which these elements may be rotated to This means includes a pin 26 extending from the disc I and engaging in a 90 slot 28 angularly formed from the openings 2| in the rear section l I. Thus the bulb "I may be turned through 90 to complete a passage through the upper opening 20 or through the lower opening 20 (see Fig. 3).

The operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming that the position of the elements shown in Fig. 3 is their normal position and the bulb I0 is compressed, the air contained therein will pass through the screen 22, the opening 2|, the top opening 20 in the lip portion II which is aligned with the top openings l8 in the harmonica [2 which permits the air to freely pass to the reeds within the top passage Hi to sound and so test the harmonica.

If it is desired to test the lower reeds of the harmonica the harmonica is held rigid in one hand while the bulb I0 is rotated through 90 by the other hand. When the bulb I0 is now compressed the air will pass through the opening 2 I (see Fig. 4) which is now aligned with the lower passages 20 (see Fig. 3) to permit the air to pass through the lower passage l8 to pass over the lower reeds within the harmonica l2 to test these reeds. Thus it may be seen that by a simple twist of one's wrist, while the other is maintained rigid, the device may be adjusted to easily test the upper or lower reeds of the harmonica I2. The flange members I9 which engage the sides of the harmonica l2 resiliently maintain the lip portion I I on the edge of the harmonica )2 and at the same time act as a seal to prevent the compressed air from passing between the sides of the harmonica l2 and the lip portion I l While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a harmonica having a double row of reeds, a harmonica tester comprising a mouthpiece having a pair of superimposed openings alignable with the passages to said reeds and being adapted to engage over the front edge of a harmonica and a bulb mounted on said mouthpiece for forcing the air through having a pair of openings at right angles to each other and selectively alignable with the superimposed openings in said disc element to permit the air to be forced through to either the top or bottom row of reeds.

2. In combination with a harmonica having a double row-of reeds. a harmonica tester comprising a mouthpiece having a pair of superimposed openings alignable with the passages to said reeds and being adapted to engage over the front edge of a harmonica and a bulb mounted on said mouthpiece for forcing the air through said mouthpiece to sound and so test said harmlonica, and means on said mouthpiece for selectively testing the upper or lower reeds of said harmonica when said bulb is compressed, said means comprising said mouthpiece having a front and rear section rotatively connected together, a disc element fixedly mounted on said front section and having superimposed openings alignable with said openings, a plate element having a pair of openings at right angles to each other and selectively alignable with the superimposed openings in said disc element to permit the air to be forced through to either the top or bottom row of reeds, said rotative connection comprising a pin rotatively connecting togther said disc element and said plate element.

3. In combination with a harmonica having a double row of reeds, a harmonica tester comprising a mouthpiece having a pair of superimposed openings alignable with the passages to said reeds and. being adapted to engage over the front edge of a harmonica and a bulb mounted on said mouthpiece for forcing the air through said mouthpiece to sound and so test said harmonica. and means on said mouthpiece for selectively testing the upper or lower reeds of said harmonica when said bulb is compressed, said means comprising said mouthpiece having a front and rear section rotatively connected together, a disc element fixedly mounted on said front section and having superimposed openings alignable with said openings, a plate element having a pair of openings at right angles to each other and selectively alignable with the superimposed openings in said disc element to permit air to be forced through to either the top or bottom row of reeds, and a screen mounted just in back of the openings in the rear section of said mouthpiece to reenforce said mouthpiece and prevent the sections thereof from buckling and so hinder rotation of the sections when the bulb is compressed.

CHARLES TREVOR. 

